New rules die hard as debate rages on

THOUGH the experimental rules were consigned to history at Congress, they remained the chief topic of conversation at yesterday’s National Football League press conference at Croke Park.

Cork boss Conor Counihan was in a minority of one flying the flag for the concept as his counterparts from Derry, Kerry and Monaghan lined up to express their relief that the proposal never saw the light of a championship day.

Derry manager Damien Cassidy was the more outspoken of the three and claimed the authorities were not prepared to support referees “through thick and thin”, whenever they made the hard calls.